About the Candidate
Name: Lauren Underwood
DOB: Oct. 4, 1986
Occupation: Member of Congress, registered nurse
Political Experience: Member of Congress
Website: www.underwoodforcongress.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LaurenUnderwood
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UnderwoodforCongress
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenaunderwood/
Candidate Statement
Hi! I’m Congresswoman Lauren Underwood and I have proudly served the people of Illinois’ 14th District since 2019.
On day one, I promised to be accessible, transparent and responsive as I serve our community. I'm proud to say that I've done just that, delivering real results for the people of the 14th. Since being elected, I’ve introduced 10 pieces of legislation that have been signed into law - six under President Trump and four under President Biden.
My legislative agenda is centered on making our economy work while providing economic security and opportunity for working families in northern Illinois.
To lower costs and fight inflation, I wrote the Health Care Affordability Act with my constituents top of mind. The legislation, signed into law as part of the American Rescue Plan, limits costs for people who buy their own coverage to 8.5% of their income. I also supported the Inflation Reduction Act, a new law to finally allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices, saving seniors thousands of dollars each year.
All of us should feel safe in our communities. To address the gun violence epidemic, we need to take urgent action with data-driven, evidence-based policies that prevent gun deaths, like universal background checks and banning sales of military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
I support the unrestricted right to the full range of reproductive health care services, which includes access to safe, legal and affordable abortion care. And in Congress, I have voted to protect our reproductive freedom. The stakes could not be higher. Extreme Republicans promise to vote for a federal abortion ban, blocking the protections Illinois has already put in place. They want to control and punish women, no matter what state they live in. We cannot let them win.
We need serious and effective leadership to meet the unprecedented challenges facing our community and country. I am grateful to have the opportunity to serve each of you. I am asking for your vote so we can continue to do this important work together. Thank you.
Candidate Q&A
Why are you running?
I was inspired to run because throughout my life, serving and helping people has been my calling. That's why I became a public health nurse, went on to serve in the Obama administration, and for the last four years have been honored to serve the people of Illinois 14th Congressional district.
On day one, I promised to be the most accessible, transparent, and responsive Representative this district has seen. I'm very proud to say that I've done just that, delivering real results for the people of the 14th. Since being elected, I'v introduced ten pieces of legislation that have been signed into law - six under President Trump and four under President Biden.
I’m running for reelection because we have so much more to do. I’m more determined than ever to build upon our progress to meet our challenges and lower inflation and costs for families across the district, from reducing monthly health care premiums to easing the pain at the gas pump and the cost of household goods. The historical circumstances of the past few years have made it clear that we need serious and effective leadership to meet the unprecedented challenges facing our community, and I’m honored to have that responsibility.
What does this office do well, and what needs fixing?
What does this office do well: It has been a joy to serve the people of Illinois 14th district as their Representative. Through this work I’m able to truly make a difference, whether that is in the form of bringing federal dollars to help out our small businesses during difficult times, or making sure we have the resources we need to repair our roads and bridges, or even moving residential mailboxes to a safer location so residents can safely access their mail, there are so many ways to improve the lives of my constituents through this office.
What needs fixing is the growing divide in our country and in Congress, driven by intense partisanship and deeply un-American attacks on our democracy from leaders of the Republican Party. Whether it’s spreading lies about the validity of the 2020 election, sympathetic views towards radical conspiracy theories and sustained attacks on voting rights across the country, today’s GOP has been hijacked by a radical fringe that threatens the future of our precious experiment of democracy. But despite these political divisions, I have stayed true to my promise to be responsive and accessible to my community and not get caught up in the partisan games of Washington. I will always look for opportunities to work in a bipartisan way and find solutions that improve the lives of my constituents.
What is the most pressing issue facing your constituents and how do you plan on addressing it?
I know that people are struggling with rising costs of goods and services, straining families’ budgets. Just like we took action in 2020 to meet the moment with the pandemic, and just as we took action in 2021 to get people back to work, I’m proud to have supported the Inflation Reduction Act to help lower out of pocket costs for American families for services like health care, all paid for by making sure corporate tax evaders pay their fair share.
Relief is on the way for our seniors! We have a new law that finally allows Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices, caps insulin costs at $35 per month, and Part D medication costs at $2000 per year. That’s significant savings for those on fixed incomes!
With my constituents top of mind, I wrote the Health Care Affordability Act, which was signed into law short-term as part of the American Rescue Plan. This legislation ensures no one spends more than 8.5% of their income on health care premiums on plans purchased through the Marketplace.
What specific steps would you take to ensure your office is accessible and responsive to your constituents?
Accessibility and transparency are core values to my work. My office has held 40 town halls in all seven counties, over 50 open office hours, and more than 100 community events.
Throughout my first two terms, we’ve listened to the needs of our community and responded to the urgent needs with swift action. During the pandemic, I brought back more than $2 billion in federal funding to help keep small businesses open and people working, and another $883 million for counties, townships and cities across IL-14. I’ve pledged to bring the voices of the 14th with me to Congress, because helping people has been my priority, and it always will be.
